Latest news with #WiffleBall
New York Post
18-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Giants vs. Blue Jays predictions, odds: MLB picks, best bets Friday
This just in: In the event that next year's All-Star Game ends in a tie, the game will be decided by a hot dog eating contest, a 40-yard dash, a tug-of-war, a round of Texas Hold'em and a steel cage match. Best three out of five. Start me up. Yeah, if you start me up I'll never stop … and we're back. Stitches has as many wins as future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander this season. Actually, that's not true. We did pick up the 'W' in family Wiffle Ball on the Fourth of July. Chris Bassitt Getty Images The 42-year-old Verlander is 0-7 after 15 starts, but J.V. has been solid, allowing two runs over six innings, seven Ks, no walks, to the heavy-hitting Phillies prior to the break. The Giants are at Toronto, where Chris Bassitt is 6-0 this season. Bassitt has given up one run in his last seven innings. Learn all you need to know about MLB Betting Let's get it started again. Taking Verlander and the Giants for $50. The All-Star Game fiasco left us at -145 rayfosses. Why Trust New York Post Betting The one and only Stitches has been handicapping baseball, daily, for the Post since 2019. Miraculously, he has finished in the black twice. But wait there's more. He showed his versatility by winning the Post's NFL Best Bet crown last year.
American Press
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- American Press
Red, White, Blue & You offers patriotic, family fun
Lake Charles' daylong Fourth of July celebration begins at 3:30 p.m. Friday with live music, food and games, and culminates with the annual fireworks display at 9:15 p.m. (Special to the American Press) R ed, White, Blue & You will be an all-day festival and fireworks extravaganza. On Friday the festival will provide patriotic, family-friendly fun for to Southwest Louisiana. What started as a festive evening has evolved into an all-day celebration that spans the downtown lakefront area, said Payton Lundmark, director of cultural affairs for the City of Lake Charles. Red, White, Blue & You will be the launch of a yearlong celebration of America 250, leading up to the country's 250th anniversary in 2026. The activities will expand from the Arcade Amphitheater to North Beach, where water rentals will be available. The patriotic festival is just the beginning, Lundmark said. Throughout the year, the Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center will host themed programming, like colonial workshops, history talks and installations, she said. The celebrations officially begin with the first annual Hot Dog Cook Off at 3:30 p.m. Handmade ceramic hot dog trophies created by local pottery artist Avonlea Cooper are up for grabs in three categories: Top Dog, Best-Looking Dog and Most Creative Dog. Lundmark said three 'adventurous cooks' signed up for the competition, but interested professional and home chefs may still sign up. The contest is free to participate in. Those interested can register in advance online, and must be able to provide their supplies for prep, cooking and serving. Games like pickleball, Wiffle Ball, volleyball, corn hole and Cajun golf will be set up on North Beach for festivalgoers to play. The City of Lake Charles Parks and Recreation will also set up competitive Olympic-style games from 3-7 p.m. at Millennium Park. Throughout the grounds, food trucks, lemonade stands and ice cream will be available. Live music will be performed throughout the evening at the Arcade Amphitheater. Dani Lacour starts the show at 4:30 p.m. Lacour, a Moss Bluff native, plays Southern rock and country music alongside her full band. 'The band is made up with some of the most talented musicians out of Lake Charles and surrounding areas,' Lundmark said. 'She strives to give a fiery and entertaining show each time for her supporters.' Next up is the Lake Charles Community Band performance at 6:15 p.m. The community band is an all-volunteer group comprised of local, passionate musicians who perform under the direction of Davaron Edwards. The band's Fourth of July performance will bring variety to the celebration with classic marches, movie themes and patriotic tunes on the docket. The live performances will be closed out by L.A. ROXX, the 'World's Greatest Arena Rock Tribute Band,' Lundmark said. 'With blazing dual solos, incredible riffs, thunderously kickin' drums and authentic vocals, this band is sure to knock you back into your favorite arena rock show,' she said. L.A. ROXX will perform from 7:30-9 p.m. The Red, White, Blue & You finale begins at 9 p.m. with a patriotic Glow Show. The building will be illuminated 'with a glorious patriotic display of moving images and scenes' by the City's 3D projectors. At 9:15 p.m., the annual fireworks finale display will light up the sky above the lake. The 88.3 (KBYS-FM) simulcast will play coordinated patriotic music for both the Glow Show and fireworks display. Spectators are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs and ice chests. Glass is strictly prohibited. The program will be moved into the Lake Charles Event Center Coliseum in the case of inclement weather.
New York Times
13-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Fenway Park in Texas? The ‘incredible' Wiffle ball replica of Red Sox's iconic stadium
BELLS, Texas — Tuesday afternoon, a 75-year-old baseball enthusiast from San Antonio, visiting for the first time a particular Wiffle ball facility he'd heard so much about, turned 10 all over again. Jerry Buster, bat in hand, stepped to the plate. He saw the pitch. He connected. The ball sailed over the left-field wall, and Buster showcased his home run trot, far from a sprint but with some pep in his step, possibly fueled by the euphoria of the scene and environment. Everything in his moment felt spot-on. Advertisement Similar memories are often made at Home Run Ranch, a complex located in the heart of Grayson County, Texas, that serves as a student ministry and a safe space for high school students who travel as far as 50 miles to attend weekly Bible studies. The ranch also happens to host one of the most fascinating sites within the baseball stratosphere: the Wiffle ball field of Wiffle ball fields. In the tiny town of Bells, a Wiffle ball complex honors one of the most iconic Major League Baseball stadiums. A replica of Fenway Park rests in the front yard of the home of Stephen and Lana Newton. It's a perk for the students who are part of the weekly Bible studies, but the Newtons rarely turn away anyone simply interested in stepping out of their cars to enjoy the splendor. Visitors can treat the field as a landmark by taking photos or, after meeting the owners, touching the surface. The replica has nearly every intricacy a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan can think of. The Green Monster? Check. The outfield walls and their angles and perpendiculars? Accurate. The foul poles? Right on point. Pesky's Pole? Consider that extra credit. Tuesday was perfect timing for Buster, a Houston Astros fan who has a longtime appreciation for the Red Sox after visiting Fenway 30 years ago. He, like tens of thousands of others, is excited about the weekend series at Fenway, as the Red Sox host the hated rival New York Yankees beginning Friday evening. Tuesday brought back fond memories of his trip to Boston. That's how accurate the Wiffle ball field is. 'Somebody had to be a Red Sox fan to put this together; the Yankees are always losing on the scoreboard,' Buster said. 'But with the field, baseball is really being preserved here.' Full attention to detail was the primary goal in creating the replica built in 2021. Casual baseball fans know about the famous Green Monster in left field, but die-hard Red Sox fans can break down the most intricate features of the iconic sports venue that opened in 1912. The replica features two sets of numbers on the outfield walls. The white number represents the actual dimensions at Fenway. The yellow number represents the dimensions of the Bells field. 'The left-field foul pole at Fenway is 310 (feet). Here, it's 70 1/2 feet to left,' Stephen said. 'In center, it's 379 in Boston; it's 90 feet here. The absolute furthest point at Fenway is 420. Here, it's 94 feet. The right-field foul pole, Pesky's Pole, is 380 at Fenway and 74 1/2 feet here.' From a color scheme, the Newtons used the same official brand as the Red Sox. The limited-edition paint, created by Benjamin Moore, is dubbed the 'Fenway Collection' and features Green Monster and Foul Pole Yellow, obviously used to paint the wall and foul poles. The chef's kiss of the replica features what lurks past the left-field wall. A Citgo sign has resided in Boston's Kenmore Square since 1965 (1940 if you include the sign's days of representing Cities Service oil company). When the Newtons were building their field, a friend who is a collector chose in June 2023 to donate a random Citgo sign he'd had for quite some time. 'It was kind of the cherry on top,' Stephen said of adding the Citgo sign. A post shared by Home Run Ranch (@homerunranch) The only glaring difference is that while Fenway is a grass field, the surface at Home Run Ranch is turf. Also, the Green Monster in Bells is built out of metal to avoid rotting wood and reduce maintenance. It has become the daily movie for baseball fans that the Newtons didn't know they would be a part of. Advertisement 'I remember when we first started building, the Amazon delivery guy pulled in and said, 'What is this … Field of Dreams? Build it and they will come?'' Lana said. 'In several months, he pulls in again with another delivery and says, 'This really is like Field of Dreams.'' Lana also remembers a man wearing a Red Sox shirt visiting the facility. The man, holding a small dog, made a basic request for a dream come true. 'He said, 'Take my picture out there, because I'll never get to the real one.'' Lana said. 'That's cool, to me.' In 2021, the Newtons wanted to enhance their small Bible study for high-schoolers, which had been going on since 2017. Their son, who plays baseball, suggested a Wiffle ball field. Turf was delivered to their land in April 2021. The complex broke ground four months later. The field officially opened in October. Lights were added the following month. From there, extra highlights were slowly added. A replica Fenway scoreboard came in October 2022. Seats for the Green Monster were added in March 2023. Additional field lights were installed last month. 'The idea of a Wiffle ball field was always in our minds. The level that it got built was never in our minds,' Stephen said. Lana explained the reasoning behind building a replica of Fenway. First, Fenway is iconic. Even Yankees fans who hate the Red Sox appreciate the history. Second, the Red Sox will always have a place in the Newtons' hearts — even though Lana insists the favorite team of the house is the Atlanta Braves. 'Some people are like, 'Why Fenway?' There are only a couple of the OG stadiums still around,' Lana said. 'We took our son to Boston in the summer of 2023, and we went to a Red Sox game and took a tour of the stadium. My son fell in love with Fenway because of his connection to it from our front yard. It wasn't just an old stadium to him. 'That's what's inspired what is in our front yard. Older people appreciate it, but younger people can appreciate the original, too.' Stephen first became a Red Sox fan in 1986. A 10-year-old Stephen watched the Astros while growing up north of Houston and the Braves because their games were on TBS. The team he despised the most? The New York Mets. 'In 1986, my first sports tears were when the Astros lost that classic NLCS to the Mets,' Stephen said. 'I hated the Mets, and I have ever since. Back then, I said whoever is playing the Mets in the World Series is my new favorite American League team, because I didn't have an American League team. Advertisement 'But of course, we all know what happened in 1986.' Since then, the Red Sox have given fans four World Series championships, the latest coming in 2018. And regardless of a winning season, a Red Sox-Yankees series will always attract attention. There's tons of history involved. Expect baseball fans — and not just Red Sox and Yankees fans — to be glued to their television sets throughout the weekend. Buster's first trip to Home Run Ranch came just in time for him to prepare for the weekend. He remembers having excellent seats at Fenway during his Boston trip in the 1990s. Before the game, he had a chance to walk around Fenway. After the game, he remembers hanging out with Red Sox fans at a nearby bar, staying until it was time to close. All kinds of memories ran through his mind as he stood on the replica field. It was unexpected nostalgia. 'What's fascinating for me is, as a kid, I grew up playing Wiffle ball in the backyard. This is what I wanted to develop in my backyard,' Buster said of Home Run Ranch. 'I had one of the best curveballs. We always tried to find a flat area where we could put a field together, and here, we've got Fenway Park. Just incredible.' Nestled in a town of approximately 1,500 people, the place the locals like to call 'Bells, America' is located roughly 70 miles north of Dallas and has a total area of only 2.2 square miles. Transportation in much of the town consists of a one-lane road. Bells is a dot on the state map, relatively nonexistent on a national map. The Newtons have had numerous individuals stop by their facility, and they welcome each with open arms. They've heard from people as far as Australia and New Zealand. They've received messages from Red Sox fans globally. They've also had fans of the closest MLB team, the Texas Rangers, ask why the facility is modeled after Fenway and not Globe Life Park (opened in 2020) or The Ballpark in Arlington (1994-2019) or Arlington Stadium (1972-93). Even 2004 World Series champion Kevin Millar has chimed in on the facility. Need this immediately at the ranch!!!!! Let's gooooo — Kevin Millar (@KMillar15) May 29, 2025 Mason McCready plays soccer for Texoma FC, a USL League One soccer team based in nearby Sherman, Texas. The 22-year-old goalkeeper spent the first six years of his life in the Boston area, as he is the son of Scott McCready, a former NFL wide receiver who was on the New England Patriots practice squad when the team won Super Bowl XXXVI. The McCreadys moved to Scotland the following year, as Scott played for the Scottish Claymores of the World League of American Football (later called NFL Europe). Mason lived in Scotland until recently, when he moved to Sherman for Texoma FC. Advertisement Mason was wearing a Boston shirt when he first connected with the Newtons during a church function. He was invited to Home Run Ranch and was 'taken aback' by everything he saw. 'I've seen Fenway, but I'd never seen anything like this,' McCready said of the Wiffle ball field. 'Being a big Red Sox fan, this was just incredible. Until you see it in person … it's crazy. 'For me, without question, it was seeing the Green Monster. It's such a unique thing in all of sports, but seeing a mini version of it — and it still being so relatively big — it caught me off-guard.' Visits to the ranch happen at all times of the day. Lana mentioned it's routine to see people drive by, only to hear their cars backing up to see what they're missing. Having Massachusetts residents or individuals with Boston ties show up at the ranch is always a treat. Some will arrive wearing Red Sox gear. One fan gave the Newtons a replica 2013 World Series ring. Some will even approach the complex with a Boston accent. Home Run Ranch is truly a spectacle, almost a town secret in many ways. The goal of containing emotions seems to be the norm for visitors. The Newtons said they've witnessed several people getting out of their cars, staring at the field in awe and trying to find the words to explain what they're seeing. 'When you bump into someone who happens to have a mini Fenway … that shouldn't happen,' McCready said. 'I felt like I was in a fever dream.' As remarkable as the visual of the Wiffle ball field can be, the objective of Home Run Ranch holds the most weight. The ranch is considered a parachurch ministry, a largely self-funded mission that became a 501(c)(3) in 2018. The mission was once a youth Bible study in the Newtons' living room. Twelve students showed up for the first meeting in September 2017. From there, the number continued to grow. On Dec. 15, 2024, a record 145 students from roughly 20 high schools were in attendance, learning about Biblical scripture and how the teachings intertwine with the everyday struggles of young men and women. 'I focus a lot on creating a place where they want to come,' Lana said. 'I want it to be approachable. I want them to invite people. I want them to learn how to share their faith. I want them to have fun being a believer. 'People think it is just a Wiffle ball field, but so much more happens here. I look at it as the Lord's faithfulness.' A post shared by Home Run Ranch (@homerunranch) Home Run Ranch has a noticeable tagline: 'A home to run to.' The complex has an outdoor basketball court and a community building called 'The Dugout,' where Bible study is held. That building includes a ping-pong table and a pool table. It can also host team dinners for organizations around the northern Texas area. Advertisement The ranch is a reminder of the past for Lana. She didn't have youth Bible studies growing up. She wanted to start the mission so high school students could find a balance of building their faith while having fun doing so. The replica field has been a great asset in getting the word out. And with this weekend's Red Sox-Yankees series on deck at Fenway, the all-around publicity is a win for all involved with the ranch. 'One thing led to another, and next thing you know, we've built the cathedral for Wiffle ball fields,' Stephen said.
Chicago Tribune
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Lake Forest High School graduate makes debut in 'the majors' with the Milwaukee Brewers
On a chilly April night, Regis Durbin Sr. is sitting in the Rate Field stands watching his son, Caleb, continuing to realize his childhood goal of playing baseball at the highest level. 'He always had a passion for the game, he always enjoyed playing,' the elder Durbin recalled. 'He always said he would like to play professional baseball. He always had that dream.' That dream came true on April 18, when Caleb Durbin, a 2018 Lake Forest High School graduate, got the call from the Milwaukee Brewers saying he was being brought up to the major leagues. Since then, Durbin, 25, has been a fixture in their lineup for the past two weeks. 'I think we have a really good team,' he said before an April 30 game against the White Sox, the team he rooted for as a child. 'It's been a lot of fun to be in the trenches with these guys and go to work every day up here.' The Durbins lived in both Lake Forest and Lake Bluff as Caleb, Regis, Jr. and their sister, Reanna, were growing up. It was a childhood filled with many traditional components for local children, with after-school treks to the Left Bank Restaurant for a hot dog followed by a short walk over to Sweet's for ice cream. Regis Sr. and Diane recall Caleb playing board games, chess and cards along with having an interest in art. But sports, particularly baseball, was his passion. Durbin channeled that love during games with friends with his talent so overwhelming that buddies made him hit left-handed in the pickup Wiffle Ball games, as he was too dominant from his natural right side. When Durbin reached Lake Forest High School, baseball coach Ray Del Fava loved his speed and natural instincts for the game. 'He just had the intangibles and as he grew and got stronger, he was able to add power to his tool belt,' Del Fava said. Durbin was a three-year starter for the LFHS varsity squad. He hit .500 in his junior year, followed by .424 in his senior year despite a 0-17 start that season. His stellar career there established a number of school offensive records and included two Most Valuable Player awards among many honors. His athletic ability was not limited to the baseball diamond. Like his father and brother, Durbin wrestled and was a cornerback for the LFHS football team, becoming a letter winner in those other sports as well. 'I always like kids who played multiple sports,' Del Fava said. 'Those were the kids who know how to compete and thrive in games.' But baseball was Durbin's favorite sport. Yet, despite his impressive LFHS statistics, Durbin did not catch the attention of baseball scouts. Del Fava thought they were scared due to his 5'7' frame. 'You can measure height, but you can't measure heart,' Del Fava said. 'That's what Caleb had. He played with a chip on his shoulder because of that and he used that as motivation.' Thus, after high school graduation, Durbin enrolled at Washington University in St. Louis. Playing at the Division III level, Durbin's game continued to excel. He once again earned accolades, with major league organizations starting to notice what he could do on the field. While earning a degree in economics, Durbin was selected in the 14th round (the 427th player overall) in the 2021 draft by the Atlanta Braves. That started a nomadic journey with stops all over minor league baseball and the Arizona Fall League. There were many long bus rides and playing in very small ballparks. 'It's a grind but you keep it all in perspective and realize how lucky you are that you are doing what you are doing,' Durbin said. 'It makes it easier getting through those tough times.' He was part of a 2022 trade from Atlanta to the New York Yankees. Last December, he was dealt again, this time to the Brewers. His mother saw that as a 'gift from God,' given the approximate 60 miles between Lake Bluff and Milwaukee. Earlier this year, Durbin battled for a major league roster spot in spring training, but did not go north with the Brewers. However, his minor league assignment this time was brief because three weeks into the regular season, Durbin received the word notifying him he was now a big leaguer. 'I was excited for the opportunity and wanted to make the most of it,' he said. His father was not surprised when Caleb let him know about the promotion. 'It's been a consistent path where he has improved each year,' Regis Durbin said. 'He got better at each level. So the expectation was pretty high, and (he continued) to work diligently so when he actually got called up, it wasn't unexpected. For me, it was part of the process.' Durbin has the distinction of being the only Division III college position player now active in the majors, according to a Major League Baseball spokesman. In his major league debut, he went 2-4 and scored a run with many of his family and friends at Milwaukee's American Family Field, including his LFHS wrestling coaches Matt Fiordirosa and Nick Kramer. Durbin conceded there were some butterflies in his stomach that first night. 'I wasn't as nervous for the baseball as I was for everything around it,' he recalled. 'There were so many people there supporting me and I wanted to do well for them.' The entourage making the trip north included Trevor Allen, a friend since kindergarten. 'It was awesome,' Allen said. 'It was just so cool to see your buddy play in a major league baseball game.' Durbin's first three games were at home, then the Brewers went on a three-city road trip, initially stopping in San Francisco. On April 21, he belted his first major league homer, a two-run blast off 2021 Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray. 'Definitely looking back at it, you realize how special it is to hit your first home run in the big leagues,' he said. Then it was back east to St. Louis for a series against the Cardinals and then on to Chicago for three games against the White Sox. Ahead of that set, his mom dropped off some of her family-recipe chicken cutlets and pasta to Caleb (a lover of Italian food) at the Chicago hotel where the Brewers were staying. At Rate Field, with lots of family and friends sitting behind the Brewers' dugout, Durbin played a big role in the first two games with a two-run single in the 6th inning of a 7-2 victory for the Brewers on April 29. The next night, he went 1-3 with an RBI sacrifice fly in the 8th inning, which gave the Brewers an insurance run as they went on to win, 6-4. Of course, baseball is a game of ups and downs as Durbin went 0-3 in the May 1 series finale, and he was picked off first base in the April 30 game. 'You are always acknowledging it and figuring out why it happened,' he said of the baserunning gaffe. 'Then you make sure it never happens again.' Through May 1, he is hitting .244 with the one homer and eight RBIs. Despite only playing 13 games through May 1, Durbin has already been hit by a pitch four times, placing him as one of the National League leaders in that category. He fractured his wrist last year, causing him to miss several weeks of the season, and said he is going to have extra padding on it to prevent that from happening again. 'I've always had a knack for getting hit,' Durbin said. 'Guys like going inside on me and I really don't get out of the way as I'm trying to stay in there and battle, especially with two strikes.' As Durbin settles into this new chapter of his life, his manager, Pat Murphy, is calling him 'Happy'. Why? 'He makes me happy, thus the nickname,' Murphy quipped. Murphy then elaborated on what he had seen so far from his rookie third baseman. 'He has great energy, (he's) a gamer,' he said. 'He creates his own standards and he has very high standards for himself.' Durbin is now trying to get used to playing against fellow major leaguers with his teammate Rhys Hoskins noting it can take years to get adjusted. 'But that type of mentality helps you in the long run,' said Hoskins, who has played in the majors since 2017. 'You never want to feel too comfortable in this game because the game will come up and find a way to bite you. This game is about adjustments as well so as soon as you start to get comfortable, the league is making an adjustment on you. It's up to you to make that adjustment back.' With Durbin getting used to big-league life, he does so with the advantage of his family being a relatively short trip down I-94. 'Now, on off days I can spend them at home,' he said. 'That has never been a thing before. It's definitely convenient.' With the Brewers set to host the Cubs this weekend, Durbin is getting used to the bigger stadiums, bigger crowds and all the other elements of Major League Baseball. He is having a good time, but realizing there are many other chapters to write. 'I'm a big leaguer myself now and I am learning every day,' he said. 'It is really a matter of having fun and the rest will take care of itself.'
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB players, teams and themes that will tell the story of the 2025 fantasy baseball season
Opening Day is finally here. Let's examine some players, themes and teams that will define the fantasy baseball season. How seriously will the Dodgers take the regular season? The Dodgers are the most automatic playoff team there is. They've won 11 N.L. West titles in 12 years, and haven't missed the playoffs since 2012. Last year they only allowed two pitchers to get past 90 innings, with an eye towards a healthy October. How much will Shohei Ohtani pitch? Will he even pitch at all? Is this the year Dave Roberts pulls back on heavy workloads for his daily lineup guys? How soon will Mookie Betts be feeling right again? Advertisement [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2025 MLB season] Los Angeles is the most fun and watchable team in baseball. It's a traveling circus. But it's also going to be a source of constant fantasy worry. Can Paul Skenes handle a heavy six-month workload? Skenes was a video game for his 2024 debut — 1.96 ERA, 0.947 WHIP, 170 strikeouts in 133 innings. Those are backyard Wiffle Ball stats. Will the Pirates let Skenes cut loose for six months if the team is not in the playoff hunt? Another Pittsburgh player I'm curious about is Oneil Cruz. His batted-ball page is a delight. He was 15-for-15 on steals in the second half. He steps into his age-26 season when career years often pop. He's worth the daily price of admission. Can the reinvented Jacob deGrom stay on the mound? How I weep for the memory of deGrom on the Mets, the most dominant pitcher we've seen in at least 20 years. Black ink all over his baseball reference page. How can we ever unsee what he did in 15 starts back in 2021 — 1.08 ERA, 0.554 WHIP. All those stats read like misprints. Advertisement Of course, he's also had two Tommy John surgeries. He's entering an age-37 season. DeGrom hopes he can dial back his velocity a bit and still be effective — while taking fewer chances with his health. I throw my coin in the fountain and make a wish. I want to believe. Do the Yankees have enough around Aaron Judge? I'm a believer in Austin Wells, but even I can admit he's an unorthodox leadoff man. Cody Bellinger is another player I want to draft, though his recent career form jumps around like some crazy stock chart. Anthony Volpe is an angelic fielder, but he's yet to provide offense metrics over the league average. If the Yankees are going to return to the playoffs, Judge needs a few running mates. Can Clay Holmes reinvent himself as a starter? We've seen this shift click in recent years — look at what Michael King has become in San Diego. Holmes has multiple plus pitches and landed in the Opening Day slot for the Mets. I always love an RP-eligible pitcher to make the rotation, especially in head-to-head leagues where they add extra value. Advertisement If Holmes stays in the rotation for a full year, the wins could flow easily. New York's lineup looks like a blast, 1 through 9. Will a new park make the Athletics a true fantasy party? Brent Rooker is coming off a monster year and Lawrence Butler was the OF5 in the second half of 2024. Those boons came despite the horrible batting backdrop in Oakland. It's not easy to project how the Sacramento park will play, but it can't be any worse than the previous home stadium. I could see the plucky Athletics being this year's version of the Tigers. Can Kyle Tucker beat Wrigley Field? Houston's park was a dream for left-handed power. Wrigley Field is a horrible place for a lefty slugger to hit. Tucker is a true five-category player so maybe he can overcome any environment, but this wasn't my favorite landing spot for him. He's also a year removed from free agency, adding more intrigue to his age-28 season. Is Rafael Devers mentally and physically ready for the season? I think the Red Sox are the plausible A.L. East favorite as the season opens. The Garrett Crochet trade looks like a steal and they smartly added Alex Bregman to a creative contract. But Boston needs Devers to be healthy and happy — his shoulders are an issue, and he's been shifted to DH, a move he passionately opposed. A healthy and engaged Devers has MVP upside. But this could also be an emotional drag on the season. How healthy is the Atlanta roster? Back in 2023, the Braves were almost too good to be true. Perfect lineup. Cy Young Award winner. But it quickly fell apart in 2024, when injuries ravaged the lineup and Spencer Strider didn't make it out of April. Ronald Acuña Jr. says he wants to run less this year, and I've faded him at the draft table. But most of the lineup felt reasonably priced to me this spring. Spencer Schwellenbach looks ready to take off. Some other players and themes I can't wait to track this year: Hunter Brown, all the Seattle starters, Corbin Carroll, Jackson Merrill, Bryce Harper, Wyatt Langford, Byron Buxton (could we please get 130 games?), Hunter Greene, George Kirby, the defense of Pete Crow-Armstrong, the running of Xavier Edwards, the comeback of Robbie Ray, Terry Francona helming the Reds, the top three prospects in the Boston organization.
